After a 6-week excursion to NJ, upstate NY, and Montreal,
we’re finally back in Florida. I’m relieved to report our home – and
surroundings in general – escaped the worst of Hurricane Irma. Other parts of
the state, however, were not as fortunate.
we’re finally back in Florida. I’m relieved to report our home – and
surroundings in general – escaped the worst of Hurricane Irma. Other parts of
the state, however, were not as fortunate.
Our hearts go out to areas which have suffered severely
from recent storms, wild fires, earthquakes, and whatever else Mother Nature
has ‘dished out’.
from recent storms, wild fires, earthquakes, and whatever else Mother Nature
has ‘dished out’.
We are truly feeling blessed.
Doug and I stayed a week longer in the Catskills than we’d
planned, due to Irma. When we learned our home had no electricity, we felt no
need to rush back, since the house was standing and the roof was intact.
planned, due to Irma. When we learned our home had no electricity, we felt no
need to rush back, since the house was standing and the roof was intact.
Doug suggested we visit Montreal, a short 300 miles from
the Catskills. He’d been suggesting this trip for the past 40 years (He wanted
to go there on our honeymoon, but I had other ideas – I won!)
the Catskills. He’d been suggesting this trip for the past 40 years (He wanted
to go there on our honeymoon, but I had other ideas – I won!)
I’m happy I agreed to go this time.
It took us 10-hours by train from Hudson, NY – many stops
along the way, plus a 2-hour delay at the border. We chose to stay at the Best Western Ville –
Marie Hotel and Suites, located near McGill University, museums, loads of restaurants and things
to do.
along the way, plus a 2-hour delay at the border. We chose to stay at the Best Western Ville –
Marie Hotel and Suites, located near McGill University, museums, loads of restaurants and things
to do.
Most travelers visit Montreal to experience French dining,
language, visitor highlights such at Notre Dame, and the decidedly French
ambiance of Old Montreal. We did all of that with the 2-day Hop-on/Hop-off tour, but
were also intrigued by the fact that there were so many Middle Eastern establishments
in the area.
language, visitor highlights such at Notre Dame, and the decidedly French
ambiance of Old Montreal. We did all of that with the 2-day Hop-on/Hop-off tour, but
were also intrigued by the fact that there were so many Middle Eastern establishments
in the area.
Our hotel offered an on-site Lebanese restaurant, Zawedeh.
The staff was great, and the food was pretty good. Our favorite dinner was the
Shish Taouk (chicken kebab) served with toum, a fluffy garlic sauce or puree.
(See recipe below.) There’s also Café Castel on the premises which caters to students with specialty coffee, sandwiches and sweet treats. We were told the café also serves lahmajoun – in season. (Funny, we didn’t realize there was a ‘season’ for
lahmajoun!)
The staff was great, and the food was pretty good. Our favorite dinner was the
Shish Taouk (chicken kebab) served with toum, a fluffy garlic sauce or puree.
(See recipe below.) There’s also Café Castel on the premises which caters to students with specialty coffee, sandwiches and sweet treats. We were told the café also serves lahmajoun – in season. (Funny, we didn’t realize there was a ‘season’ for
lahmajoun!)
Needless to say, many of the hotel staff are Lebanese, but we did find one Armenian, Garo, manning the front desk on the late shift. We were
treated very well by all.
Elie, one of our dining room servers (and trained chef), Mary – also dining room staff, Brahim and Mike, both at the concierge desk, tipped us off to many sights including an amazing Middle Eastern market, Adonis, and to a couple of good lahmajoun spots – all an easy walk from our hotel.
Our visit to Adonis was an eye-opener! The store is huge and stocked with cases filled with the most incredible prepared foods – kibbe (kufte); meat, spinach, and cheese turnovers –(boregs); mini, medium, and large-sized lahmajoun – regular or spicy; an array of olives, cheeses, nuts, labne, – and the desserts – Holy Cow!
treated very well by all.
Elie, one of our dining room servers (and trained chef), Mary – also dining room staff, Brahim and Mike, both at the concierge desk, tipped us off to many sights including an amazing Middle Eastern market, Adonis, and to a couple of good lahmajoun spots – all an easy walk from our hotel.
Our visit to Adonis was an eye-opener! The store is huge and stocked with cases filled with the most incredible prepared foods – kibbe (kufte); meat, spinach, and cheese turnovers –(boregs); mini, medium, and large-sized lahmajoun – regular or spicy; an array of olives, cheeses, nuts, labne, – and the desserts – Holy Cow!
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| Kibbe and boreg display at Adonis. |
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| Adonis’ olive bar. |
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| Desserts to die for at Adonis! |
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| Our lunch from Adonis |
We bought a package of mini lahmajoun, ready-to-eat stuffed
vine leaves (yalanchi), and a few kibbe to have for lunch. An assortment of
cookies – mamoul, kourabia, and bird’s nests – were enjoyed for several days
with our afternoon tea or coffee.
vine leaves (yalanchi), and a few kibbe to have for lunch. An assortment of
cookies – mamoul, kourabia, and bird’s nests – were enjoyed for several days
with our afternoon tea or coffee.
Having a refrigerator and microwave in our mini-suite made dining-in
possible and comfortable.
possible and comfortable.
Another outing brought us to Arouch, an Armenian-owned ‘fast-food’
lahmajoun eatery.
lahmajoun eatery.
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| The menu signage at Arouch |
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| Our lunch of lahmajoun and ayran. |
The wall behind the counter bears a large sign depicting
the menu options. Customers may purchase single items or, in the case of lahmajoun
(regular or spicy), a half-dozen or whole dozen to-go – and – the staff will
happily heat your choice for dining in. The lahmajoun was fresh and mighty
tasty, and Ayran (a yogurt drink) helped wash it down.
the menu options. Customers may purchase single items or, in the case of lahmajoun
(regular or spicy), a half-dozen or whole dozen to-go – and – the staff will
happily heat your choice for dining in. The lahmajoun was fresh and mighty
tasty, and Ayran (a yogurt drink) helped wash it down.
Would we return to Montreal? You bet. And we’d choose the Best Western Ville-Marie again – during their café‘s lahmajoun season!
Toum, a Lebanese dipping sauce
Yield: 6 servings
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| Toum, a fluffy garlic dipping sauce (Recipe and photo from allrecipes.com) |
Ingredients:
4 cloves garlic, peeled
1/4 cup vegetable oil, or as needed (Canola, vegetable or
peanut oil are best to use)
peanut oil are best to use)
1 pinch salt
Juice of ½ lemon, or to taste
Directions:
Crush garlic in a mortar and pestle with a generous pinch
of salt. Mix in oil a teaspoon at a time until the mixture will absorb no more
oil. Stir in the lemon juice.
of salt. Mix in oil a teaspoon at a time until the mixture will absorb no more
oil. Stir in the lemon juice.
Serve at room temperature as a dip with Shish Taouk
(chicken kebab), Lebanese breads, hummus or Tabbouleh.
(chicken kebab), Lebanese breads, hummus or Tabbouleh.
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Robyn, We just returned from Toronto and I purchased the mini lahmajune from Adonis as well. It was the best tonight with toushi and also some great desserts.. also from Adonis! 🙂
Small world, Dawn! I'm so happy we got to experience Adonis!